“A thoughtful, challenging piece that oozes charm”
Bangers written by Danusia Samal is billed as a lyrical love letter to UK garage, but I think this sub-title undersells the core narrative themes. The depth and poignancy of trauma and its impacts shine through the often uplifting script.
The hit show returns to the Arcola after a smash run in Edinburgh and it’s easy to see why. As an audience we’re greeted by an enthusiastic DJ played by Tanya Loretta Dee, there as the spiritual music guide, manoeuvring seamlessly through the more complex parts of the show. Dee provides laughs, strength and our tunes of course.
Jim Caesar plays Clef, (and others) with joy and nuance, always eeking out the most of the comedy, for which director Chris Sonnex must also be admired for. Writer Danusia takes the other lead Aria and really takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions, deftly navigating the truth of shame and how it inhibits relationships.
What I enjoyed the most about the show was the grey areas it chose to explore, Clef and Arias negative qualities and choices are held in the spotlight uncomfortably.
Designer Zoe Hurwitz gives us a club, house, recording studio, school stage and more with just a few black boxes and the script seamlessly integrates them to moments where they don’t even belong.
Where the show lost some of it’s momentum for me was in the original songs, often in a key that seemed too low or just not elevating the moment quite as much as a real banger does.
This show has tons of heart and it’s hard to leave without having been on a journey with this wonderful cast. Even if you think a UK garage love letter isn’t for you, you’ll definitely find something to identify with.